Combination lock



G. E. LA PORT COMBINATION LOCK Filed May 29 22 INVENTOR. 6 L421 4 //'L i A TO Patented Feb. 2, 1926..

UNITED STATES GEORGE E; LA PORT, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

COMBINATION LOCK.

Application filed May 29, 1922. Serial No. 564,480.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. LA Pom, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combination Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in combination locks.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a combination lock which is simple, cheap to make, durable, not liable to get out of order, which is strong, and easy to lock and as readily unlocked by any one knowing the combination.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

While my invention is applicable to looks of different type, it is particularly well adapted for use in combination padlocks.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention, as applied to a padlock,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved combination lock.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in vertical section, partly in elevation, and partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the arcuate bolt.

Fig. 4L is a vertical sectional view on the line 44t of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the lock.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views respectively of the three tumblers.

Fig. 9 is a cross section on line 99 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

The casing comprises, preferably, two arcuate longitudinal members 1 and 2 having flat inner sides which lie against each other, the members being fastened together in any suitable manner, as by rivets 3 or by spot welding.

Each casing member has on its inner side a longitudinal arcuate groove 4, which the groove of the other member forms an arcuate hole in which is longitudinally slidably fitted an arcuate locking bolt 5 having spaced apart ends which in the locked position, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, are disposed within the casing.

Part of the bolt 5 which is in the casing is provided with a longitudinal row of peripheral teeth 6, 7, 8 and 9, Figs. 2 and 3, which are located in two arcuate recesses 10, which are below and which respectively communicate with the grooves 4. The casing members at the right end of the recesses 10, as viewed in Fig. 2, constitutes a stop, against which the tooth 6 is adapted to strike to limit the opening movement of the bolt 5. The other ends of said recesses 10 serve as a stop for engaging the tooth 9 to limit the closing movement of the bolt 5.

I Rotatably mounted on the bolt 5 are three circular tumblers 11, 12 and 13, mounted res )ectively in three holes 14, 15 and 16, which extend transversely through the members 1 and 2. a

In the locked position of the bolt 5, shown in Fig. 2, the tumblers 11, 12 and 13 are disposed respectively between the teeth 6, 7, 8 and 9. Each tumbler 11, 12 and 13 is pro vided with an inner notch. 17 which extends laterally from the central hole in the tumbler and which is adapted to have pass through it the teeth 6, 7, 8 and 9, to permit the bolt being moved to and from the locked position, when the notches 17 aline withthe teeth 6, 7, 8 and 9. When the bolt 5 is ii the unlocked position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, th tooth 9 will extend through the notches 17 of the tumblers 11, 12 and 13, thus holding the tumblers from being accidentally turned and permitting the bolt 5 to be instantly moved back to the locked position shown in Fig. 1 and in solid lines in Fig. 2.

The outer side of one of the casing members, as, for instance, the member 1 is provided with a transverse indicating line 18, with which are adapted to register suitable marks, such as numerals provided on the periphery of each of the tumblers, and

which, to any one knowing the combination employed, indicate the positions of. the notches 17 with respect to the teeth 6, 7, 8 and 9.

lVhen the combination employed coniprises the numerals 2, 1 and 3, for example, as shown in Fig. 1, these numerals when in register with. the indicating mark 18, indicate that the notches 17 of the tumblers 13,

J2 and 11, respectively, are in alinement i with the teeth 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Thus, when the tumblers 13, 12 and 1.1 are set, as shown in Fig. 1, the bolt 5 can be moved longitudinally from the locked position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, to the unlocked position shown in dotted lines in said figure, and in the latter position, the tooth lOO ill)

9 will extend through the notches 17 ot' the three tumblers, thus holding the latter from accidental turning, when the bolt is in the unlocked position. In the unlocked position of the bolt, the space between the ends of the bolt is adapted to receive therelhrough the device, such as a staple, not shown, to which the lock is to be attached.

In unlocking the lock, the tumblers 13, 12 and 11- are set with the numerals of the combination registering with the indicating mark 18, after which the bolt 5 is circumlerentially turned from the locked to the unlocked position. To look the bolt, this operation is reversed and the tumblers then turned to any other position than the registered position just described.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhit I claim is 1. In a combination look, a casing, an arcuate locking bolt having spaced apart ends and a longitudinal row of peripheral teeth and longitudinally movable in said casing to and from a position in which the ends will be in the locked position in said casing, and tumblers rotatable on said bolt in said casing and held by the latter from longitudinal movement, each tumbler having a notch through which said teeth are adapted to pass, the tumblers, when their notches are not alined with said teeth, engaging the latter to hold the bolt from longitudinal movement, one of said teeth engaging the casing to limit the movement of the bolt to the locking position and in the unlocked position extending through said notches to hold the tumblers from turning, the tumblers and casing having eo-operating means, for indlcatmg the positlons of said notches with respect to said teeth, substantially as set forth. 7 I

2. In a combination lock, a casing comprising two members each having an arc'uate groove provided with an arcuate recess, said groove and recess co-operating with the groove and recess of the other casing member, an arcuate, locking bolt longitudinally slidable to and from the locking position in which both ends of the bolt are in the easing, the bolt having a row of peripheral teeth slidably fitted in said recesses and hold the bolt from turning, and tumblers rotatable on said bolt and extending laterally through said casing, each tumbler having a notch through which said teeth are adapted to pass, the tumblers, when their notches are not alined with each other holding the bolt i'rom endwise movement, one of said teeth engaging the casing to limit the inwardmovement of the bolt, and in the unlocked. position being disposed in all said notches to hold the tumblers from turning.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE E. LA PORT. 

